ParentWonder

I didn’t plan to write this but Char’s Weary Parent Group Writing Project prompted me with the idea of writing something significant that I’ve learned when I was a teen.

Writing about this topic gives me the opportunity to look back and remind myself what I went through. So that I can appreciate more what I have now and refocus on what matters most.

My life as a teen was a turbulent one. Also, it was the lowest moment of my life. Nothing could be worse than that.

That happened when my father was ill. Mind you, it’s not a sickness that could be cured within days. My dad was lying in the bed for about a year.

Because of my dad being the breadwinner of the family, our income suddenly stopped. We could depend on our savings but with the meager salary my dad made, the funds were running low very fast. Imagine the life of no income for 12 months and my mom had 4 children to feed.

It’s not easy for the whole family. Being the eldest in the family, I had to work part time in a nearby factory after school. Not much but at least enough to help lessen my mom’s burden and cover my own expenses.

I was not as lucky as my friends who didn’t have to work like I did.

But I was fortunate in the sense that I learned the meaning of being tough in the face of adversity.

I learned the importance of money and the lack of it.

I learned the meaning of unconditional love when my mom chose to stay on even though she had a choice to abandon us.

I learned the meaning of perseverance no matter what happens. Every cloud has a silver lining.

I learned to appreciate what we already have and eliminate crave for what we don’t have.

I learned the fact that everything in life has ups and downs. One day you can be healthy. Other days you can be sick.

I learned the importance of being on your own feet. The world doesn’t owe you anything.

I must say it’s not easy for me to go through this test of life while one’s supposed to enjoy what a teen had to enjoy. But that’s life.

That was like more than 20 years ago. People say you come out a tougher person after an adversity. You know what, it’s true.
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It freaked me out when I read this. This is the second time I felt this on the same topic.

I can’t stand “conspiracies” that stop humans from being humans. Worse still, for their own benefits.

Let me explain.

We all know that breastfeeding is the best food for infants and babies. Taking from a dad like me, you may ask, “What the heck that you know about breastfeeding? You can’t even nurse!”

Well you don’t need to be a nursing mother to figure out breastfeeding is THE way to go. There’s no need to argue which is a better option: breastfmilk or formula.

Why? It shows in Mother Nature. Take a look at all mammals. What do baby mammals eat? Milk. From where? Their mothers.

And human beings are in the same class too! It’s only natural for humans to breastfeed their babies as other mammals do.

I used to think the decision to breastfeed lies in the hand of mothers. Because they are the one who does the “work.”

But how wrong was I to make such an assumption until I read this article about two weeks ago, and today’s article. Both by the same author George Monbiot. His writing is provocative and bold. And I like it so much!

For those who promote breastfeeding awareness, now they face a bigger challenge than just educating mothers or mothers to be to go the natural way.

There’s a bigger player here trying to convince mothers that some milk formula is “closer than ever to breastmilk”. And they are willing to put behind chidlren’s health for the sake of raking more profits.

If you think it happens only in poor and developed countries, take a look at this statistics.

“In a recent survey of 16 European countries, the UK comes second to last, beating only Belgium. When our babies are six months old, just 21% receive any breastmilk, while in Norway the rate is 80%; 24% of British babies never taste breastmilk at all – in Norway it’s 2%. Remember this next time someone tells you that the rate can’t be increased because lots of women can’t produce milk. The constraint is not biological but political. The Norwegian government has passed laws that make breastfeeding as easy as possible: all women are entitled to a year’s maternity leave on 80% pay, and state employees are given special breastfeeding breaks.”

I like this phrase. Let me repeat once more here:

“Remember this next time someone tells you that the rate can’t be increased because lots of women can’t produce milk. The constraint is not biological but political.”

Sounds scary, huh?

No I have no intention at all to meddle in politics when I started this website as this website is for parents and about parenting. But who would have guessed politics has a hand in preventing the growing of breastfeeding community.

Okay, back to my point. What am I trying to arrive here?

For all mothers, do whatever it takes, for heaven’s sake, to breastfeed your baby as long as you can. Don’t listen to naysayers. Whether it’s your mother, your friend, or even the prime minister.

I know there are many problems you might face at work or at home when you breastfeed (as in everything else we do in life), but you can always get help from other nursing mothers. Don’t let excuses take over your children’s health.

My wife and I did not argue when we had our two babies. Both of us agreed breastmilk was the best for our babies even though I knew my wife would be the one who made more sacrifices than I did. What I could do was to provide support and encouragement.

Better late than never.

I think it’s better to pay tribute to all great dads out there on this special occasion with a song, or… rather a music video. It’s more fun and engaging than a card. It says it all in this heart-warming video.

Click here to watch the video

Happy Father’s Day!!!

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